New FCX Fuel Cell Concept by Honda
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 10. 7.05
Honda FCX Fuel Cell Car
Honda will unveil its new FCX hydrogen fuel cell vehicle concept at the Tokyo Motor show (Oct. 22nd to Nov. 6th, more info here). As you can see in the picture above, the new FCX is quite different from the previous generation (you can see pictures and read more about it here). The futuristic look and extreme interior space (it sure seems that way from the picture, in any case) are probably in part due to the fuel cell powertrain which doesn't have the same space and position limitations as a traditional internal combustion engine.
The Honda FC Stack uses a metal separator structure that is easier to manufacture and reduces the number of necessary components by 50%, with the aim of increasing stack longevity and reducing manufacturing costs. This system also includes an aromatic electrolyte membrane that reduces manufacturing costs and increases the range between cold and warm temperature operation.The 2006 Honda FCX adds a Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System that contains locations for all existing hydrogen-fueling stations within its database. --GCC
October 20th Update: More is now known about the 2006 Honda FCX fuel cell concept car. You can read the latest here.
::Green Car Congress, ::Jalopnik, ::Japanese Car Fans
too cool, lets hope its cheap to buy!
Looks very aerodynamic... I wonder what the drag coefficient's like.
I wonder about that too. I do know that the low-floor should give it a very low center of gravity and make it quite stable.
Hmm. Looks like a squashed GM Hy-Wire, which 'used' a very similar technology, and boasted about a spacious 'open-plan' interior.
Also reminds me of RMI's Hypercar concept.
True. I guess that there are only so many ways to make very aerodynamic spacious cars that can be used on our current road system, though.
Looks like a more stylized Prius.
I've been reading a lot about this newest concept by Honda. I like the spacious driver side area and the whole interior.As a car enthusiast, i've noticed a certain rise in the use of other types of "energy" to make these cars run. It's a perfect innovation especially now that we're on trying times. Just as Honda is discovering new car concepts, Ford also comes up with more and More hybrids to be achieved this decade.
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I just wish its features are more likely to or should i say far more excellent than Ford's Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology.
Hot looking car! But, no mention of the hydrogen storage. The previous model uses a 5,000 psi tank. It takes about as much energy to pressurize hydrogen to 5,000 psi as it does to generate it using electrolysis. Also, the mechanical energy stored in that tank may be about 5 times that of a 50-caliber artillery shell. I don't think I want to get in an accident with that bomb. I wish Honda and others would consider the substantially lower pressure metal hydride storage.
There's no such thing really as a '50-caliber artillery shell.' I'm not trying to slam you, here, but if you're going to provide 'common' items for comparison, please try to use non-confusing examples. '50 caliber' is equivalent to half an inch in diameter, and is typically used to describe a direct-fire bullet or shell such as those fired from an automatic rifle, aniper rifle or anti-aircraft mount. Very few 50-caliber projectiles have explosives or incendiaries in them, so saying they 'contain energy' is also misleading. They may possess kinetic energy when fired, but that's a whole other kettle of fish.
Sorry to be a pedantic bastard, but there are enough confusing numbers thrown around on this topic already.
It's ironic how the cars of the future look like animals from the past. In any case, impending environmental doom seems to be a consistent antagonist, both for us as for the dinosaurs...
Why is Honda working with this hokey hydrogen idea? It's so much less efficient than solar/nuclear generated electricity... I hear that the sun gives the earth about as much energy in one day as fossil fuel has provided us for the past hundred years or so. I'm not sure if that's true, but I imagine it's feasible.
I think we should also work toward improving hybrid vehicle battery technology so our discarded batteries can be less environmentally damaging. Then we can work on developing fully electric, eco-friendly vehicles.
What's the problem with that?
Fine as it goes, but low slung cars are of no use to people who through disability cannot get in or out of them. Often those cars which are 'user freindly' to such people turn out to be SUVs and similar. Hopefully they will take this kind of thing into account.